WIAA approves football conference realignment

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control passed a statewide football-only conference realignment proposal and supported a raise in ticket prices for sectional and state tournaments at its April meeting Tuesday.

The board unanimously approved its final consideration of the football-only conference proposal crafted by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association. First approval of the plan was granted by the board with a 9-2 vote at its meeting in March. Membership rules required a 40-day window for schools involved in realignment plans to appeal the first consideration before the board took final action. Fifteen schools filed concerns or appeals of the initial vote by the April 10 deadline and were presented to the board.

The plan, which will be implemented in the 2020 season, gives uniformity to the number of schools affiliated with a conference and makes sure certain programs have enough conference games for playoff qualification.

“As I indicated, when the board gave its initial support of the plan, this was an enormous undertaking and a groundbreaking venture for the WIAA,” Executive Director Dave Anderson said. “This was a good-faith effort, and there was openness to alternative ideas, ‘big-picture’ thinking and widespread acceptance of the final decision. It’s also important to convey that at any time, there is 100 percent agreement of all impacted members, relief can be fast-tracked.”

Shawano will remain in the Bay Conference, which will be rounded out by Seymour, Waupaca, New London, Fox Valley Lutheran, Xavier and Winneconne.

Bonduel and Clintonville will compete in the MONLPC-East. Sturgeon Bay, Peshtigo, Kewaunee, Southern Door, Oconto and Mishicot will round out the conference.

Menominee Indian, which is transitioning back to 11-man football in 2019, will play in the MONLPC-West. Oconto Falls, Northland Pines, Tomahawk, Crandon, Niagara/Goodman/Pembine, Coleman and Crivitz round out the eight-team conference.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood will remain in the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Division. Spencer/Columbus Catholic, Nekoosa, Amherst, Stratford, Weyauwega-Fremont, Manawa and Shiocton will serve as Witt-Birn’s conference foes.

In the future, football-only realignment will follow the conference realignment procedures approved by the board at its meeting in January.

The board voted to increase the ticket price of sectional tournament events by $1 from $5 to $6, and to increase state tournament tickets $2 for those tickets currently priced at $6 and $8. It’s the first ticket increase at the sectional level since 2014 and at the state level for a majority of sports since 2004. Ticket prices for the state boys and girls basketball tournaments remain unchanged.

Revenue from the increase in ticket prices will allow for an increase in game fees paid to regional and sectional contest officials and tournament game managers, as well as an increase in school state tournament travel reimbursement, tournament game officials travel reimbursement and WIAA Board and committee travel expenses.

— WIAA Communications contributed to this story.